Risk & Business Magazine Rogers Insurance Fall 2016 | Page 26

TAKING CARE OF YOUR FEET

BY: DR. ZIV FELDMAN, BSC,
DPM, FACFAS | FELDMAN
FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALISTS

Taking Care Of Your Feet:\
Enjoy Your Favourite Winter Activities

W

hether you’re trudging
through deep snow and
sub-zero temperatures,
or contending with
dampness, chill, and
slushy conditions, it’s important to take care
of your feet all winter long. You’ll want them
to be healthy and ready for action when that
long-awaited spring finally arrives.

•

Most Canadians will have walked 120,000
km by the time they turn 50. Is it any
wonder, then, that foot pain affects the daily
activities – walking, exercising, or standing
for long periods of time – of the majority of
Canadians?
Each season presents unique challenges to
foot health. Surveys and research tell us that
foot health is intrinsic to overall health, so
protecting our feet all year long is vital to
our overall well-being.

•

Here is some advice for keeping feet healthy
in our Canadian winter scenarios:
•

Winter is skiing, snowboarding and
hockey season – activities enjoyed by
nearly 5 million Canadians. Never
ski or snow board in footwear other
than ski boots specifically designed for
that purpose. Make sure your boots
fit properly; you should be able to
wiggle your toes, but the boots should
immobilize the heel, instep, and ball
of your foot. You can use orthotics
(custom made support devices) to help
control the foot’s movement inside ski
boots or ice skates.

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FALL 2016

•

Committed runners don’t need to let
the cold stop them. A variety of warm,
light-weight, moisture-wicking active
wear, available at most running or
sporting goods stores, helps ensure
runners stay warm and dry in bitter
temperatures. However, some runners
may compensate for icy conditions
by altering how their foot strikes the
ground. Instead of changing your foot
strike pattern, shorten your stride to
help maintain stability. And remember,
it’s more important than ever to
stretch before you begin your run. Cold
weather can make you less flexible in
winter than you are in summer, so it’s
important to warm muscles up before
running.
Boots are must-have footwear in winter
climates, especially when dealing
with winter precipitation. Between
the waterproof material of the boots
themselves and the warm socks you
wear to keep toes toasty, you may find
your feet sweat a lot. Damp, sweaty
feet can chill more easily and are more
prone to bacterial infections. To keep
feet clean and dry, consider using foot
powder inside socks with wool in them
and incorporating extra foot baths into
your foot care regimen this winter.
Be size smart. It may be tempting to buy
pricey specialty footwear (like winter
boots, skates or ski boots) for kids in
a slightly larger size, thinking they’ll
be able to get two seasons of wear out

of them. But unlike coats that kids
can grow into, footwear needs to fit
properly right away. Properly fitted
skates and boots can help prevent
blisters, chafing, and ankle or foot
injuries. Likewise, if socks are too
small, they can force toes to bunch
together, and that friction can cause
painful blisters or corns.
Finally—and although this one seems
like it should go without saying, it bears
spelling out—don’t try to tip-toe through
winter snow, ice, and temperatures in
summer-appropriate footwear. Exposing
feet to extreme temperatures means risking
frostbite and injury, especially if you are
diabetic. Choose winter footwear that
will keep your feet warm, dry, and wellsupported.
If you are experiencing any kind of foot pain
be sure to give me a call at 403-719-9500
to book an appointment or go online at
www.feldmanfootandankle.com
Let’s get you back out and enjoying the
winter months and our Alberta mountains,
foot pain free! +

Dr. Feldman is an established doctor of
podiatric medicine and surgery and has
served in the Calgary Health Region for over
twenty years. While he is recognized for his
expertise in all aspects and conditions of the
lower extremities, he specializes in corrective
foot and ankle surgery.